Xbox 360 gets a QWERTY [Archive]

ldi222

08-01-2005, 10:57 AM

A recent Microsoft Xbox 360 presentation in Spain seemingly reveals that a first-party keyboard will be available for the company's next-generation console.

The only image of the typing device currently available - which you can see on the right - shows that the diminutive keyboard will be similar to those found on palm devices, such as BlackBerry, and connects directly into the controller.

http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=36833&subsectionid=1586

Kamalot

08-01-2005, 12:26 PM

Yea! A Treo-like keyboard!

This is much better than the annoying voice functions of Live. Gawd, I hate listening to whining brats on their parent's Internet connection calling me all kinds of foul things right in my ear.

Atorak

08-01-2005, 12:43 PM

Microsoft is coming out of the gate swinging. Benefits for all!

Chandler

08-01-2005, 12:44 PM

definately, I am not keen on talking to strangers...does anyone feel the same as me? It just seems weird!

jeffool

08-01-2005, 12:53 PM

Great. Now instead of little kids calling me 'faggot' and 'nigger' while playing, I'll have them scrolling it across my screen instead of playing.

Or maybe I'm just in a bad mood today.

Paranoia

08-01-2005, 12:56 PM

Now all MS needs to do is to get Blizzard release WoW for the 360.

Dirty Harry

08-01-2005, 12:58 PM

I think all online games that have voice and chat should have the option to turn off chat or voice or both for example. Its a shame that alot of games dont think of this very simple idea.

Dirty Harry

08-01-2005, 12:59 PM

Now all MS needs to do is to get Blizzard release WoW for the 360.
It will be great when the next version of ff online and everquest 2 are playable on the ps3.

TheKeck

08-01-2005, 01:06 PM

mkelehan

08-01-2005, 01:09 PM

When I saw this headline I thought they were finally putting decent gaming controls on a console. Alas, it's just this dinky little thing. Oh well.

(By "decent gaming controls" I meant a keyboard and mouse for FPS.)

It's got 3 USB ports. No reason to think it won't accept standard mice in addition to keyboards.

Nanashi

08-01-2005, 01:10 PM

Microsoft is coming out of the gate swinging. Benefits for all!
If MS really wanted to come out of the gates swinging they'd make XB360 compatible with all PC USB keyboards and mice. It's a pipe dream, I know. :(

amusedtoe

08-01-2005, 01:11 PM

That makes what, 87 official peripherals available at launch? Now if this is going to be like the controller where it's native to Longhorn, or Vista or whatever it's called, and I can use it as my main keyboard that could be an ok purchase.

XenonCJ

08-01-2005, 01:13 PM

It's got 3 USB ports. No reason to think it won't accept standard mice in addition to keyboards.Uhm yeah there is... They want u to buy MICROSOFT stuff.

netcraazzy

08-01-2005, 01:20 PM

jeffool

08-01-2005, 01:20 PM

Ernst_Jager

08-01-2005, 01:36 PM

Sometimes I just want to play a game. I don't want to chat or talk I just want to play. I have a mic and play BF2 on a regular basis. 75% of the time I don't even use it. I just want to shoot people. I think many people are like this and don't want to make online friends. They just want to play the game.

Reanimated

08-01-2005, 01:46 PM

It will be great when the next version of ff online and everquest 2 are playable on the ps3.

Why? The first versions of those games suck shit.

Zeal

08-01-2005, 01:47 PM

I'd much rather have a normal sized keyboard.

Deadend

08-01-2005, 01:48 PM

I wonder about something...

MS is going to be revealing an offical Media Center keyboard that is wireless for XPMC editon... now what if that keyboard could also work with a 360?

Or the media center remote as well?

as the mini keyboard in a controller does not look as fun to me.

01010

08-01-2005, 01:54 PM

You people realise that you don't *need* to have the communicator plugged in to play on live and you can easily mute people that are dicks don't you?

Heretic Machine

08-01-2005, 02:02 PM

I agree with many of the people who've already posted: I don't like voice chat, and I think it detracts from the gaming enviroment.

Paranoia

08-01-2005, 02:06 PM

Let's imagine using voice chat where you (the male for example) speaks up while your virtual self has a body of an 18 year old beautiful princess warrior.

It literally kills the mood.

riposte101

08-01-2005, 02:11 PM

I'd like to take a minute to be somewhat serious. Granted many people online are annoying, but is that the only reason people don't want voicechat?

Little kids, annoying asses, and people-who-use-voice-masking-on-XBox-Live aside, aren't there better ways to go about it? For example, age groups, like someone said recently? Anyone got any other ideas?

There's this thing called gamerzones that will essentially fix these problems. If you leave negative feedback against a user you will never be matched up with them again on X360. Negative feedback will also get users banned from the gamerzone very quickly according to Microsoft's presentation at gamefest. Just be patient, MS knows about these issues and have come up with really intelligent ways to combat these problems.

Groo

08-01-2005, 02:44 PM

I hate to say it but I don't think I'd enjoy trying to type out a message on that dinky little thing. Microsoft seems to be determined not to allow their consoles to have a standard keyboard as a peripheral.

Yes, they are determined not to allow their consoles to have a standard keyboard as a peripheral. They already got enough flack for the Xbox being similar to a PC. They want people to think that the Xbox is a console, not a PC, and a keyboard doesn't help that.

sTubbs

08-01-2005, 03:24 PM

Yes, they are determined not to allow their consoles to have a standard keyboard as a peripheral. They already got enough flack for the Xbox being similar to a PC. They want people to think that the Xbox is a console, not a PC, and a keyboard doesn't help that.

I have never understood that argument. Aside from mods the mouse and keyboard control scheme is the only true advantage that PCs have over consoles [graphics aside of course, but those hardly count in any serious gaming argument]. By simply allowing a keyboard and mouse control scheme the console world would be destroying one of the biggest arguments that PC gamers have over console gamers. It would also open the door for genres like RTS to become fully embraced by the consoles. Also, it would allow the Phantom guys to sell something, as their keyboard set up kicks ass:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/phantom-12.jpg

Last of the Red Hot Mamas

08-01-2005, 03:43 PM

The keyboard/mouse issue was addressed (http://www.gamespot.com/features/6124293/p-2.html) during E3. The 360 will support "a USB keyboard" (not sure whether he means standard USB keyboards or a special Microsoft-branded one), but only for text entry. Mouse support wasn't mentioned, but if they are supported I imagine it would only be for web browsing and interface stuff, not actual gameplay. So you won't be able to play Halo 3 (or whatever) with a mouse and keyboard unless you use an unofficial adapter like the one out now for the Xbox 1.

Groo

08-01-2005, 03:59 PM

I've always prefered playing games on a controller. When I play games on the PC, it feels like I'm getting carpal tunnerl after a few hours.

Dirty Harry

08-01-2005, 04:38 PM

I've always prefered playing games on a controller. When I play games on the PC, it feels like I'm getting carpal tunnerl after a few hours.
You generally get over that feeling when you've pulled your fifth all nighter in a row. You can also wear bands on your wrists to make things better.

civx

08-01-2005, 06:36 PM

Groo

08-01-2005, 06:47 PM

You generally get over that feeling when you've pulled your fifth all nighter in a row.

I only wish that were the case. Believe you me, I am no stranger to all nighters. Unforunately, playing World of Warcraft for hours on end caused some pretty serious hand pains.

jeffool

08-01-2005, 07:14 PM

The only appeal I see to playing games with a key/mouse setup is the sheer number of keys available in a small range. By far and large I prefer controllers. (Granted if I had a better, contoured keyboard it'd probably feel a little better.) But I like having two analog sticks and a trigger to pull. I'd like for next gen controllers to all by gyroscopic. I even think controllers need more buttons.

51|RandoM

08-01-2005, 07:29 PM

mouse >>>> any analog stick/pad when it comes to aiming in an FPS. Should be obvious to anybody who has used both and actually tried to aim.

Microsoft will not release a full-sized keyboard for a game console. At that point, it would be far too close to being a PC. Bad enough that they own the desktop in terms of software, if they started sneaking up on the hardware side, the antitrust people would really freak out.

*Legion*

08-01-2005, 09:11 PM

mouse >>>> any analog stick/pad when it comes to aiming in an FPS.

Hands >>>> feet when it comes to controlling a soccer ball, but people still manage to play the game with those inaccurate controls at the bottom of their body.

The level playing field of gamepad shooters is very enjoyable when you get over the little "OMFG I can't headshot in .000001 seconds!!111111OMFG!!!"

tai.mei.shu

08-02-2005, 12:41 AM

i love this idea

Malovech

08-02-2005, 03:48 AM

The console world would crush the PC game world overnight if they had a control scheme that came anywhere close to mouse/keyboard. A specialized "Claw" and mouse would be less PC-like, yet would achieve the same effect. Using an analog stick to aim is simply asinine.

Vandenh

08-02-2005, 05:03 AM

>mouse >>>> any analog stick/pad

Why are people still arguing over this. This is a non issue... consoles are living room devices. They don't need a mouse... and if everybody is playing with a controller the playing field is even. Who gives a f*ck on Halo 2 that you have no mouse? Yes accuracy would be better, but the game would still be exactly the same.

Also try to be as accurate with a REAL gun as you are with your mouse. I think you will find that an analog controller is actually more realistic. Does that mean that analog sticks are better? You know I play with what they give me and a good game is a good game, mouse or no mouse.

bapenguin

08-02-2005, 05:24 AM

Are there any tests out there...like say that pitted someone using a gamepad vs. someone using a keyboard and mouse in a FPS. I know quite a few people who are AMAZING with a gamepad. I know quite a few people who are AMAZING with a mouse. I'd be curious to see really how much better (if at all) a mouse is on a level playing field with a gamepad.

Xerxes

10-12-2005, 10:18 AM

I hate to bring up old stuff... But this is kinda new but not new as in article new... Just new findings.

In closing, Itagaki asks that users make a couple of additional purchases for their Xbox 360. First up is a USB keyboard. DOA4 allows for keyboard chat. The game uses a lobby system that Itagaki refers to as "House," where players can create their own avatars, which Itagaki refers to as a "Doll." Itagaki also suggests purchasing a joystick. Team Ninja is overseeing the development of an official joystick with peripheral maker Hori, just as it did for the DOA3 stick.

And there's a picture from tsg i can't find but it's a real keyboard. Not a add-on keyboard.

NoName

10-12-2005, 10:26 AM

I hate to bring up old stuff... But this is kinda new but not new as in article new... Just new findings.
Eh, I'm sure it's old enough everyone has forgotten about it. No one would have noticed if you duped it and posted as new ;).

Oh, and interesting quote. Do you have a link from where it came from?

Xerxes

10-12-2005, 10:31 AM

Teehee...
Still can't find that damn picture. But I doubt it was the official keyboard because it wasn't white rather looked like a normal silver and black one. But it was around TGS and people were around a xbox 360 with it.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/654/654965p1.html

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200509/N05.0923.1500.24632.htm

Him saying it again:
GI: Will any USB keyboard be able to be used for chatting in the online lobbies?

Itagaki: Of course.